Wednesday, May 15, 2013

I Had Baha’i Beliefs Before I Knew the Faith Existed

Sometimes we receive several blessings
at once. A response coordinator shared this story about a youth who
contacted her through an online conversation and then enrolled in the
Baha’i community the same day. She then heard some wonderful news
about the Baha’i community where the young woman who just declared
resides.

The coordinator began the conversation
by text...

Hello! I am a
member of the Baha’i Faith responding to your inquiry. Do you have
questions? I look forward to hearing from you.

The young woman then responded:

Yes, is it a
requirement to go to a prayer circle or can I worship independently
because there are no Baha`i centers near me?

The coordinator explained that worship
is between an individual and God, and includes more than prayer. The
youth texted back:

Can you
clarify? I agree with all the central beliefs, I actually had all
Baha’i beliefs even before I knew the Faith existed, but I don't
understand what obligatory prayer is or if there are any special ways
to worship.

The coordinator then explained
obligatory prayer and community devotions:

Sure, there are
obligatory prayers that a Baha’i must say once every 24 hours.
There are three obligatory prayers and you can choose one of the
three. We do not have congregational prayer, but we do have
devotionals where people gather and pray together, people from all
religions.

She then explained the wider concept of
worship in the Baha’i teachings:

There are no
clergy in the Baha’i Faith. Worship is not just prayer but every
act you do that is conducive to the well-being of mankind and for the
love of God is considered worship. Your profession, your art is a
divine gift, and a form of service.

The coordinator included a link to an
app for Baha’i prayers. The young woman then responded:

Thank you. I
think I want to join the Faith. What should I do next?

The coordinator
encouraged the youth to call her
directly so that they could have a conversation about the fundamental
verities of the Faith. She did and they talked for about an hour, and
then joined the Baha’i community!

Not only are the youth’s parents
supportive of her decision, but “out of the blue,”
the coordinator received a call from a Baha’i in the very same
community where the youth just declared.

The news? The Baha’is called to
inform the coordinator that their community was able to form a
Spiritual Assembly, the local Baha’i governing council, after
several years. Though she is too young to be elected to the Assembly,
she will receive the nurturing and support of a brand new one within
her community!

The response coordinator wrote:

It just
happened to be in the community this young lady who has just
enrolled lives in! This is so typical of the Concourse on High
assisting. I don't usually panic because Baha'u'llah is always there.
(Sometimes I think I am just numb.)

In the book Paris Talks,
‘Abdu’l-Baha states:

In the Bahá'í
Cause arts, sciences and all crafts are counted as worship. The man
who makes a piece of notepaper to the best of his ability,
conscientiously, concentrating all his forces on perfecting it, is
giving praise to God. Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by
man from the fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by
the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This is
worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people.
Service is prayer. (Paris Talks, p. 176)

Search This Blog

Subscribe To

Contact us

Quickly share teaching stories, lessons learned, and creative initiatives that are developing every day in clusters around the country. Check in regularly to get the hottest news on fresh teaching efforts. Search the archives for ideas. Take your own teaching plans to the next level.

Post comments or questions on stories you liked. Respond to someone else’s comments. Remember that your experiences could benefit hundreds of friends in their own efforts to advance the Cause.

We hope you enjoy the site and find it useful, and look forward to hearing from all of you.